New Swedish Books, spring 2017 1
61 Spring 2017 Mira and Martin Far from every fic
tional character leaves an imprint and takes on a life of their own. Mira in Anna Ehring’s Mira and Martin is an exception. This spring’s most skilful character study quickly jumps out from the page. Soon Mira has become a fully-fledged character, warts and all, and with charm and compassion. She stands with one foot in childhood, when you still build dens and hide under the bed when you’ve done something wrong, and with the other in her teens, when you’ve got a secret crush on the most popular guy at school. And it’s not easy. How do you learn the new rules to play by? Who can you confide in when you’re too big to just run to your mummy? It’s always been difficult for Mira to fit in and navigate the social structures around her. But now it’s even more difficult. It’s so easy to be clumsy or get it wrong! And a lot is at stake. This is an affectionate, everyday and honest depiction of eleven-year-old Mira. Both her and the book feel extraordinary and stay in your thoughts long after you’ve finished reading. Anna Ehring (b. 1969) Mira and Martin Publisher Bonnier Carlsen info@bonniercarlsen.se www.bonniercarlsen.se Rights Bonnier Rights mathilde.coffy@bonnierrights.se Selected Works Här vill inte hundar bo illustrated by Lotta Geffenblad (Bonnier Carlsen 2013) Chapter book Gammelmormor och kärleken illustrated by Lotta Geffenblad (Urax 2015) Picture book Gammelmormor, Daisy och döden illustrated by Lotta Geffenblad (Urax 2016) Picture book Photo: Stefan Tell